The National Basketball Association (NBA) has inked a landmark 11-year media rights deal worth $76 billion with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, set to commence in the 2025-26 season. This decision marks a significant shift in the league’s broadcasting landscape, as it rejected Warner Bros. Discovery’s $1.8 billion per year offer, potentially ending TNT’s nearly four-decade partnership with the NBA.The new agreement will expand the NBA’s reach across various platforms. Amazon Prime Video will air games on Friday nights, select Saturday afternoons, and Thursday night doubleheaders, as well as take over the NBA League Pass package. ESPN and ABC will retain the league’s top package, including the NBA Finals. NBC, returning as a broadcast partner after a 20-year hiatus, will have rights to up to 100 regular-season games, including Sunday night broadcasts after the NFL season concludes.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized that the primary objective of this deal is to “maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans worldwide”. The digital opportunities with Amazon, in particular, are seen as aligning perfectly with the global interest in the NBA.However, this decision has not been without controversy. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has vowed to take ‘appropriate action,’ claiming they matched Amazon’s offer. The potential legal dispute could lead to further negotiations and possibly a compromise. Despite the uncertainty, Silver expressed confidence that at least some of the popular ‘Inside the NBA’ personalities will continue to cover the NBA, regardless of which network holds the broadcasting rights.As the NBA prepares to formalize these new agreements, the sports media landscape continues to evolve, reflecting the growing importance of streaming platforms in sports broadcasting. This deal not only reshapes how fans will consume NBA content but also sets a new benchmark for sports media rights in the digital age.
Key points
- The NBA has signed an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.
- This deal potentially ends TNT’s long-standing partnership with the NBA, sparking possible legal action from Warner Bros.
- The new agreement aims to expand the NBA’s reach through various platforms, including streaming services.
- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized maximizing reach and accessibility for fans as the primary objective of this deal.
Discovery.
Contradictions👾Warner Bros.
Discovery claims to have matched Amazon’s offer, while the NBA states that WBD’s proposal did not meet the terms of Amazon’s offer.
👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported total value of the deal, with some sources citing $76 billion and others mentioning $77 billion.
